Control device for printing machines



May 14, 1940. w. LEWIS CONTROL DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 15, 1938 INVENTOR aim 2 ATTORNEY Patented Ma 14, 1940 I UNITED STATES CONTROL DEVICE FOR, PRINTING MACHINES William Lewis, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to R.

Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 15, 1938, Serial .No. 185,168

3 Claims. (01. 101-378) This invention relates to printing machines of the rotary cylinder type and more particularly to an improvement thereof by the'provision of a safety device therefor, arranged in respect to the plate cylinder of the printing machine, whereby it may be operated with increased efficiency and safety.

The invention is particularly applicable to printing machines wherein plates are removably mounted on the plate cylinders, being clamped thereon by suitable plate clamping mechanism which is actuated by a removable wrench, or operating handle, and preferably one wherein such a" wrench or' operating handle is inserted and removed from the mechanism substantially radially with respect to the cylinder. A form of plate clamping mechanism with which the features and principles of this invention is especially applicable is shown and fully described in Patent Number 2,066,192 granted December 29, 1936.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a safety device for a printing machine which is adapted to be associated with the plate cylinder and the plate clamping mechanism therefor, whereby the wrench, or operating handle, by which the plate clamping mechanism is actuated, is prevented from being placed 'in operating position without causing the machine to be inc-perative. 1

Another object is to provide a safety device of the above nature, whereby the machine is prevented from being operated while the wrench, or operating handle, is in mechanism actuating position.

A further object is to provide-for a printing machine of the above type, a safety device, including a machine control whereby the machine will be stopped and maintained inoperative whenever a wrench, or other operating means, for a plate clamping mechanismis disposed in an actuating position.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a safety device for a printing machine, of generally improved construction, whereby the same will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eflicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a porthe same.

'insertable into the socket 22 substantially radially I an; tion of a printing machine with a frame of the machine broken away to expose the ends of two pairs of plate and impression cylinders and the safety device of this invention associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a face view of one end of one of the plate cylinders'looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, the relative position of the plate 10 cylinder being shown in dotted lines.

The portion of a printing machine illustrated in Figure 1 including two pairs of cooperating cylinders, each pair consisting of a plate cylinder II and an impression cylinder l2. Suitable ink supplying rollers l3 are provided and arranged in operable association with each plate cylinder II. A web I4 is threaded between the cylinders of each pair and runs from a guide roller l5 to the first pair, then to thesecond pair, and from '20 there to the remaining portion of the machine (not shown). The cylinders II and I2 and the roller l5 are journaled in and extend between machine frames l6 and 11.

As fully described in the above referred to pat- (25 ent, each plate cylinder I I has a plurality of plates l8-clamped thereon by axially movable clamping members IS. The members H! are moved into plate clamping position by a rockable member (not shown) which is adapted to be actuated by a swingable member 20, pivoted at 2|, and operably connected to the rockable clamp actuating member. The member is provided with a socket 2-2 into which a Wrench, or operating handle 23 is adapted to be inserted to manually swing $35 In the form shown, the wrench'23 is with respect to the cylinder II. The outer wall of each socket 22 is formed by an arcuate plate 22a. secured to the end of the cylinder by bolts or other suitable securing devices 221).

As is shown by an elementary diagram in Figure 1, an electric motor 24 is provided for driving the printing machine. The motor 24 isconnected to a line wire L2 by a conductor 25 and to one contact 26 of a switch 2! by a conductor 28.- The other contact 29 of the switch 21 is connected by a conductor 3| to the line wire LI. The switch 21 is under the control of a solenoid 32 which is connected by a conductor 33 to the line wire LI 55 and by a conductor 34 to a normally open start push button 30. The push button is connected to the line wire L2 through a normally closed stop push button 5| and a normally closed switch 35 of any suitable commercial type, and

which is shown mounted upon the machine frame l6 adjacent the end of the plate cylinder I I. The switch 35 is connected by a conductor 36 to the push button 5| and by a conductor 31 to the line wire L2. Closing of the start push button 30 energizes the solenoid 32 which also actuates a switch 52 to close a maintaining circuit through the stop push button 5| and the switch 35. The normally closed switch 35 is provided with the usual spring biased actuating lever 38, having a roller 39 mounted upon its free end, whereby the lever 38 may be actuated against its spring bias (not shown) to open the switch .35. Opening of the switch 35 deenergizes the solenoid 32 by opening the circuit through the stop push button 5| and switch 52 whereby the switch 21 opens and the motor 24 stops, or is prevented from being operated by the start push button 30.

The removable wrench, or operating handle 23 during its clamp actuating movements and while in the socket 22, may assume any one of a. plurality of the positions indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, and provision is herein shown of a safety device whereby, when the wrench .23 is inserted in the socket 22, the switch 35 is opened and the motor 2 5 is prevented from being operated. Such a provision eliminates all possibility of the machine operator being injured or damage being caused to the adjacent machine parts and mechanisms, should the machine be started before the wrench is removed. The device illustrated embodies the features and principles of this invention in its simplest form and includes a bar M which is hinged at one end to a strap bracket 42, upon a hinge pin 43. The bracket 42 is secured to the adjacent machine frame It by bolts M. The bar ll extends across the axis of the cylinder H at one side thereof and overlies the socket 22. The bar 4! has an intermediate portion 45 of suiiicient length to block the insertion of the wrench 23 into the socket 22 at any one of its possible plurality of operating positions, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3.

The bar 4! is, in this instance, hinged to swing axially of the cylinder l i, and the portion 45 may be maintained in socket overlying position as shown in full lines in Figure 2 by the biasing spring for the lever 33 of the switch 35, or by -a spring 28 arranged to react between the free end ll of the bar ll and the adjacent machine frame 16, as shown in Figure 2. A movement limiting screw 58 is provided to prevent the bar H from swinging against the end of the cylinder l l and to insure its proper position relatively to the socket 22. Attempted insertion of the Wrench 23, or similar tool, into the socket 22 will move, or, as in this instance, swing the bar portion 25 about the hinge pin 43 toward the machine frame 16 and axially with respect to the cylinder H. During such movement of the bar portion 25, the switch operating lever 38 will be swung by the engagement of the roller 39 with the bar portion 25, the roller 39 being disposed in the path of movement of the bar portion 45 for this purpose by mounting the switch 35 to the machine frame it by a bracket 49.

The device of this invention operates to'cover whichever of the sockets 22 is disposed in wrench receiving position, to prevent insertion of the wrench Without insuring that the machine is made inoperative. This is accomplished by the opening of the machine control switch 35 whenever the wrench is inserted into the socket 22, and by this switch being maintained in open cir cuit condition as long as the wrench 23 remains in the socket 22. The arrangement is particularly convenient to use, as the bar portion 45 overlying the socket 22 is readily moved into switch actuating position by the wrench 23 when it is inserted into the socket 22. When desiring to slightly rotate the cylinder I l during the placing of plates I8 thereon, the switch 35 may be actuated by manually manipulating the bar 4| to swing the lever 38.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be further understood that each and every novel feature and combination present inor possessed by the mechanism herein disclosed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

What I claim is:

1. In a printing machine, a frame, a plate cylinder journaled in said frame and having plate-clamping mechanism mounted thereon including axially slidable plate clamps, an electric motor for rotating said plate cylinder, a control switch for said motor, the plate-clamping mechanism having a tool-receiving socket pivotally supported relative to the cylinder on an axiallyextending pivot and operable to operate the plate clamps, the socket extending radially from its pivotal support and swingably operable in a plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis, a straight bar pivotally securedat one terminal relative to the frame and extending perpendicularly across the cylinder so that when in normal position a portion of the bar radially covers the tool-receiving socket, yieldable means engaging the opposed terminal of the bar for maintaining the bar in normal socket-covering position, the socket securing an operating tool which is radially insertable therein when the said bar is axially moved from its normal socket covering position, the radial positioning of the tool into the tool-receiving socket being prevented by the interposition of the said bar when in its normal position, the control switch being operably connected with the said bar and movable to circuit breaking position by the movement of the bar from its normal socket-covering position thereby breaking the electric circuit to the electric motor to prevent the operation of the motorwhile the bar is biased away from its normal position by the presence of the radially-disposed operating tool in the tool-receiving socket.

2. In a printing machine, a frame, a plate cylinder journaled in said frame and having plate-clamping mechanism thereon including aXially-slidable plate clamps, an electric motor for rotating said plate cylinder, a control switch for said motor, the'plate-clamping mechanism having a tool-receiving socket pivotally supported relative to the cylinder on an axiallyextending pivot and operable to operate the plate clamp-s, the socket extending radially from its pivotal support and sw-inga-bly operable in a plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis, a straight bar pivotally secured at one terminal relative to the frame and extending perpendicularly across the cylinder so that when in normal position a portion. of the bar radially covers the tcol-receiving socket, adjustable yieldable means engaging the opposed terminal of the bar for maintaining the bar in predetermined normal socket-covering position, the socket receiving an operating too-l which is radially insertable therein when the said bar is moved from its norm-a1 socket-covering position, the radial positioning of the tool into the tool-receiving socket being prevented by the interposition of the said bar when in its normal position, the control switch being operably connected with the said bar and movable to circuit-breaking position by the movement of the bar from its normal socket-covering position thereby breaking the electric circuit to the electric motor to prevent the operation of the motor while the bar is biased away from its normal position by the presence of the radiallydisposed operating tool in the tool-receiving socket.

3 In a printing machine, a frame, a plate cylinder journaled in said frame and having plate-clamping mechanism mounted thereon including axially slidable plate clamps, an electric motor for rotating said plate cylinder, a control switch for said motor, the plate-clamping mechanism having a flat rectangular tool-receiving socket to rigidly support a tool, the socket being pivotally supported relative to the cylinder on an axially-extending pivot and operable to operate the plate clamps, the socket'extending radially from its pivotal support and swingably operable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, a straight bar pivotally secured at one terminal relative to the frame and extending perpendicularly across the cylinder so that when in normal position a portion of the bar covers the tool-receiving terminal of the socket, yieldable means engaging the opposed terminal of the bar for maintaining the bar in normal socketcovering position, adjustable means controlling the amplitude of movement of the bar about its pivotal terminal, the said socket receiving a flat operating tool which is radially insertable therein when the said bar is axially moved from its normal socket-covering position, the tool being securely held in radial position by the socket, the radial positioning of the tool into the toolreceiving socket being prevented by the interposition of the said bar when in its normal position, the control switch being operably connected with the said bar and movable to circuit breaking position by the movement of the bar away from its normal socket-covering position thereby breaking the electric circuit to the electric motor to prevent the operation of the motor while the bar is biased away from its normal socket-covering position by the presence of the radially-disposed operating tool in the tool-receiving socket, the operating tool when held in the socket engaging the bar to prevent it returning to normal socket-rcovering position.

WILLIAM LEWIS. 

